Teams

Started playing golf at the age of 12 with a cousin but Nicola - better known as "Nikki" - did not play competitively until she was 17.

She played hockey for East of England Under-18s and had England trials in 1999.

It was last year that Nicki's golf career took off. She won the England intermediate championship at Hollinwell (where she had her lowest ever score, an eight-under-par 67), the Kent championship and was a member of the Kent team who won the English county title. Also in 2003, she reached the last 16 of the British championship at Lindrick, losing to the eventual title-winner, Elisa Serramia. Nicki was runner-up in the Wentworth Scratch Trophy.

She made her debut for England last year in the European team championships in Frankfurt and the women's home internationals at Cruden Bay.

A graduate of Surrey University in 2001, she is now a maths teacher at Pent Valley Technology College, managing to combine top-level amateur golf with her career in education.

Nicki is a keen sports person and likes playing hockey in winter months.